Chennai: Power to be generated from non-biodegradable waste

It is also learnt that the Chennai corporation has decided to rope in IIT-Madras and Anna University to assist in studying the technology.

The civic body is setting up two power plants in the city with an eye on generating 64MW per day.

Chennai: Moving a step ahead in making Chennai ‘zero-waste’ city, the Greater Chennai corporation has decided to produce electricity from non-degradable wastes, which pose severe environmental and health issues. The civic body is setting up two power plants in the city with an eye on generating 64MW per day. According to Chennai corporation officials, to manage the daily waste accumulation of 5,500 tons, volume reduction using mass incineration technology is the only solution.

“Officials from solid waste management department of Chennai Corporation had visited cities in north India where energy is being generated from wastes. Cities like Jabalpur, Indore, Bhopal and Ranchi have started generating electricity from wastes. Two plants are functioning in Delhi, while Hyderabad and Bengaluru are studying the technology,” a Chennai corporation senior official told Deccan Chronicle.

The civic body has built bio-gas production units in many parts of the city and bio-gas generated from these units is being utilized in Amma canteens.The official said that plants would come up at dump yards in Perungudi and kodungaiyur, and the energy generation capacity would be 32 megawatts (MW) each.

“Chennai city is generating nearly 5,500 tons of garbage every day. Though source segregation is done in a decentralized way in many parts of the city, disposal of non-organic wastes remains a problem. To achieve volume reduction, mass incineration is the tested and proven method,” the official explained.

It is also learnt that the Chennai corporation has decided to rope in IIT-Madras and Anna University to assist it in studying the technology. Garbage that is already dumped in Perungudi and Kodungaiyur landfills also is used to generate electricity, thus resulting in emptying them.

“Jabalpur is using mixed garbage (Organic and non-organic wastes), but we are planning to use non-organic wastes only. The proposal is in the nascent stage and expert study has to be conducted before building power plants,” the official added. The central government is also advocating mass incineration method. If power plants come up, this would help to reduce environmental issues in both localities, the official said.